Buying medicines online

In the European Union (EU), it is possible to buy medicines online. Patients should only buy medicines from online retailers registered with the national competent authorities in the EU Member States, to reduce the risk of buying sub-standard or falsified medicines. The European Commission has introduced a common logo that appears on the websites of these registered retailers.

Look out for the logo

To stay safe when buying medicines online, look out for the logo. The logo is clickable and will appear on the websites of all online medicine retailers in the EU that are registered with their national regulatory authority.

Clicking on the logo will take you to the register of online retailers of the country where the retailer is established and registered, corresponding to the flag displayed on the logo. Once there, check that the retailer is listed.

Do not continue with your purchase if the retailer is not on the list.

The national flag and the text are an integral part of the logo. Only national flags of an EU Member State, as well as those of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein can be displayed. A logo that displays the EU flag, for example, is not authentic.

Dangers of falsified medicines

When you buy medicines from unregistered sources you are at greater risk of purchasing falsified medicines. These medicines may not have passed through the usual rigorous evaluation processes that ensure that a medicine is fit for the EU market.